UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
“The United States is already experiencing the effects of climate change, and these effects will be much worse without action to sharply curtail our global warming emissions. Average U.S. temperatures have already risen by 2°F over the past 50 years, and are projected to rise another 7–11°F by the end of this century under a high-emissions scenario, and 4–6.5°F under a low-emissions scenario (see Figure 1).
Recognizing the urgency of global warming, policy makers are beginning to pursue solutions to help us avoid the worst effects of climate change, while transitioning the nation to a clean energy economy. However, the debate over comprehensive climate and energy policy often focuses on the costs of climate action, rather than on the serious economic and environmental consequences if we fail to act. One study shows that if global warming emissions continue to grow unabated—a high-emissions scenario—the annual economic impact of more severe hurricanes, residential real-estate losses to sea-level rise, and growing water and energy costs could reach 1.4 percent of GDP by 2025, and 1.9 percent by 2100 (Ackerman and Stanton 2008).
The U.S. Global Change Research Program, a consortium of 13 federal departments and agencies, recently released a comprehensive report describing some of the major impacts of climate change in the United States (Karl, Melillo, and Peterson 2009). That report bolstered a growing consensus that the nation can reap significant economic, public health, and environmental benefits from moving quickly to dramatically reduce our global warming emissions.
This fact sheet provides specific examples from that and numerous other studies of the projected damages from climate change, and their costs. These studies show that climate change will have costly effects on our coasts, our health, our energy and water resources, our agriculture, our transportation infrastructure, and our recreational resources. There are other costs, not included here, that are hard to quantify or project. The costs presented here also do not include the considerable effects on other countries. Past emissions of heat-trapping gases have already committed us to many near-term costs. However, swift and deep emissions reductions can greatly curtail longer-term costs.
Even a partial accounting of the costs sends a clear message: Climate inaction is simply too costly. The prudent response is to aggressively reduce carbon emissions—at least 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050.”
About Union of Concerned Scientists
www.ucsusa.org
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
Tags: Global Warming, Interactive, UCS, Union of Concerned Scientists
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